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Hockey

SPORTS: Spits shut out listless Sting

WINDSOR - The Sarnia Sting played their final game at the archaic and steamy Windsor Arena Thursday night.

It was a game they probably would like to forget.

The Windsor Spitfires blanked the Sting 5-0 before a near capacity crowd of 4,366 in their home opener.

The loss keeps Sarnia winless in the Ontario Hockey League at 0-3 while Windsor remains unbeaten at 3-0.

Built in 1924, the Windsor Arena has been home to the latest edition of the Spitfires since 1975.

Sarnia has two games remaining in Windsor, the next one being Jan. 8, but it will be at the new Windsor Family Credit Union Centre. The new facility, with a seating capacity of 6,500, is expected to open in early December. It's located in east Windsor.

The Spitfires outshot Sarnia 16-5 in the opening period and were rewarded with a 2-0 lead.

Ben Dubois opened the scoring at 2:39 deflecting home a cross-ice pass while Adam Henrique increased the lead to 2-0 at 18:28 on a power play when he deflected a point shot past Sting rookie goalie, Shayne Campbell.

The only goal of the second period came at 10:42 when Ryan Ellis of the Spitfires scored a shorthanded, breakaway goal lifting a backhand over Campbell.

Ellis got his second of the game at 8:39 of period three when he blistered home a slapshot from the right point while Dale Mitchell scored at 16:38.

The game was slowed to a crawl in the third period when fog forced the teams to skate around in an attempt to lift the fog.

The Spitfires peppered Campbell with 56 shots, 24 in the third period. The Sting committed a number of turnovers in their own end forcing Campbell to make a number of outstanding saves. Campbell was named third star.

Andrew Engelage turned aside 22 shots in recording the shutout.

"Obviously they are a lot better than us," said Sting head coach Dave MacQueen. "We couldn't get out of our own end. The disspointing thing was they outworked us. We didn't compete in front of our end or along the boards. I don't care if you are 16 or 20, you need to win some of those one-on-one battles. The only bright spot was our goalie."

Sarnia learned late Wednesday night that overage goalie Andrew Perugini has officially signed with the Edmonton Oilers. Perugini signed a minor league deal with the Oilers, not a two-way National Hockey League contract that he was after.

Center Jamie Arniel played his first game of the season after returning from the Boston Bruins camp while Ben O'Quinn also played his first game since returning to the team earlier this week.

The Sting return home tonight to host the Saginaw Spirit beginning at 7:30 p.m. at the SSEC.

STING NOTES

- There was an emotional 30-minute, pre-game ceremony to honour former Spitfires captain Mickey Renaud, who died suddenly on Feb. 18. He was 19-years-old. The Spitfires retired his jersey number 18 as a 10 by 3 foot banner was raised to the rafters.

The city of Windsor also announced that the road leading into the new Windsor Arena will be called Mickey Renaud Way.

All Sting players wore white jerseys in warmup with the number 18 and the name Renaud on the back. "It was our way of honouring Mickey," said Sting general manager, Alan Millar.

It was the fourth number retired by Windsor. Sarnia has never retired a number in their 15-year history.

- The Sting played without four regulars. Mark Katic, Justin DiBenedetto and Matt Martin remain at the New York Islanders camp and aren't expected back until Sunday. Devin DiDiomete remains at the Columbus Blue Jackets camp. Windsor had all their players back except for Justin Bailey, a first round pick of the Islanders.

- One of the all-time favourite Sting players, Trevor Letowski has signed a one-year deal to play for HC Astana of the Kontinental Hockey League based out of Russia. No terms were released but his agent says his salary will be at least a million dollars. Letowski played 616 career NHL games over nine seasons for Phoenix, Vancouver, Columbus and Vancouver. Letowski hopes to return to the NHL next season. The KHL was founded in 1996 and is comprised of 24 teams.

- An altercation near the Windsor bench in the third period could see Mitch Dunning and Steve Reese of the Sting face suspension. Windsor's Jacob Lalonde was handed a match penalty

- Windsor was one-for-three on the power play and Sarnia zero-for-seven.